Collectively, there are a lot of small changes and inexpensive products that can replace everyday disposable items for a big impact. Throw together a kit with these items and keep them in your purse, backpack, messenger bag, briefcase, or a bag in the car. The
Plastic Straws
Gaining much more attention lately due to their propensity to show up in large numbers at beach cleanup days and recent bans in cities across the country, disposable plastic straws are everywhere.
In just the U.S. alone, nearly 500 million straws are used every single day. A recent study published in Science Magazine estimated as many as 8.3 billion plastic straws pollute the world’s beaches.
Luckily there are now several reusable straw options available, from silicone, glass, stainless steel, and titanium. For parties and what not, there are several disposable options that are much more earth-friendly. Wax-paper straws, natural HAY! straws, and even edible straws made from seaweed!
Plastic Utensils
Reusable utensils are normal at home, but when we are on the go or at work, it seems normal goes out the window. Plastic utensils are everywhere in our on-the-move society and often provided whether or not you need it.
There are bio-plastic options, but even those can cause problems (hint: they don’t recycle or compost easily). Wood and natural material utensils are an improvement, but the best option is to go reusable. Options like Twinz Reusable Chopsticks made from lightweight titanium are compact, convenient, anti-microbial, and can be taken anywhere.
Reusable Water Bottles and Cups
If you’re on this website, you probably already know about reusable water bottles and the impact reduction they can have. However, disposable plastic water bottles are still one of the most common trash items found on our beaches and in our oceans.
Filling stations are making appearances everywhere from airports, gyms, schools, museums and more making it easy to refill whenever and wherever. With all the options available, glass, metal, BPA-Free plastic, insulated, straw-top, etc, you are sure to find one that fits you.
Reusable bags
We’ve seen them everywhere, hanging in the wind, stuck in trees, fences, gutters, you name it. Bans in several cities have helped, but why depend on that when you can just throw a small packable reusable bag in your car, purse, or backpack (heck, just use your backpack!)
I’m a big fan of taking these reusable and washable mesh produce bags to the farmers market for my fruits and vegetables.
Tampons
Not often considered, the waste from feminine products from millions of women each month creates tons of waste.
A typical woman can use anywhere between 8,000 to 17,000 tampons in her lifetime.
Products like the Keeper, the Moon Cup, the Diva Cup, and newly created Voxapod all work on the same premise of a reusable cup that you can just rinse out.
Compostable Diapers
It’s no secret disposable diapers and wipes clog landfills, the convenience factor hard to ignore for many parents. Cloth diapers and reusable diaper services offer an alternative, but there are also some new options from providers like Earth Baby. Compostable diapers really only work when you have access to an industrial composting facility (they do not compost in backyards or most green waste facilities).